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Sandy beaches and dunes border Lake Michigan. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images )

Indiana may not face the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, but this Midwest state has no shortage of fine beaches. The state borders Lake Michigan in the northwest, one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world. Occasionally, waves are high enough to attract surfers, and winds often pull kite surfers along the water. The Ohio River creates its southern border, flanked by sandy beaches and islands. And in between, the state boasts numerous lakes and reservoirs with great beaches for swimming and relaxing.

Over 15 miles of uninterrupted shoreline invite beach-goers to enjoy one of the Great Lakes' best beaches. Indiana Dunes State Park (in.gov) sits just east of Lake Michigan's most southern point. Huge sand dunes rise to the sky, and then plummet to the lake, creating a sandy beach. Swimming is permitted in an area supervised by lifeguards. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (nps.gov) continues from the park to the east, and features Mt. Baldy, a moving sand dune that allows expansive views of the lake and beach below. Swimming is permitted but beach-goers should use caution during high winds when waves can be high and riptides present. Further east, Michigan City features a family-oriented beach at Washington Park. A lighthouse sits at the end of an adjacent pier.

Originally a swimming hole amid Indiana cornfields, Indiana Beach Amusement Resort (indianabeach.com) attracts more than 750,000 people annually. Created from a dam on the Tippecanoe River, Shaver Lake became a popular beach area that evolved to an amusement and water park. Today, families enjoy a sandy beach, and a "splash bash" that features waterfalls and fountains. Visitors often take a ride on an inner tube along the lake before relaxing at the beach. The park lies 95 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Farther north, near South Bend, Koontz Lake features a beach and a variety of water sports from water-skiing and jet-skiing to canoeing and kayaking. The lake also attracts anglers for its bluegill and bass.

Monroe Lake, Indiana's largest, sits near Bloomington. The 10,750-acre reservoir features two beaches. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors enjoy water skiing and boating. Recreational areas surround the lake and boast campgrounds, sports fields, hiking trails and a nature center. The Brookville Lake-Whitewater Memorial State Park Complex (in.gov) lies near the Ohio border. Beach activities include swimming and shoreline hiking. Visitors may rent canoes, paddleboats and rowboats or navigate a horse on a bridle trail. The park also serves as a memorial for those who served in World War II.

Scales Lake lies near the small town of Boonville, a few miles east of Evansville. The small lake boasts a large, sandy beach with lifeguards. Adjacent to the beach, a small pool sits below a winding waterslide. Lewis and Clark traveled along the Ohio River on their epic westward trek in what today is called the Cannelton Pool. The wide area along the river sits between two dams in far south Indiana. Popular with boaters, islands dot the landscape and feature quiet, sandy beaches. Beaches also line the river banks interspersed with rock bluffs where views are much like they were in the early 1800s.

Jeff Fulton is a writer specializing in business, travel and culture. He has worked in international sales, customer relations and public relations for major airlines, and has written for Demand Studios since May 2009. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Chicago.

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